Don’t do it, Philippines. Don’t seek to “collaborate” with the PRC on oil exploration and drilling and expect the Chinese personnel to act otherwise than they’ve been acting in your vicinity for years.
But this kind of team-up is what the Marcos administration and some in the Philippine legislature are contemplating (April 6, 2026).
The Senate is considering reviving joint oil exploration between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as the government looks for ways to secure alternative energy sources.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the proposal had been raised during the early years of former president Rodrigo Duterte but did not move forward….
The renewed push comes as the government explores options to address possible fuel supply constraints linked to global developments.
Here’s a revealing statement from Senator Sherwin Gatchalian:
“Actually, this is not new. During the Duterte administration, a technical working group was already formed. I was chairman of the energy committee at that time, so I monitored the development, and Philippine and Chinese negotiators had difficulty coming up with a common solution because they wanted their law and we wanted ours.”
Yet Gatchalian then says: “I am okay to pursue joint exploration as long as our sovereignty and sovereign rights are not diminished or compromised, since it [would be] within our exclusive economic zone.” China is “tried and tested when it comes to exploration, but the governing law should be ours because that is our model for all those who want to explore in our country.”
Well, why not? As long as the Chinese party-state changes its nature utterly and instantly, so that the sovereign rights of the Philippines are not diminished or compromised, what could be the objection to the joint venture? Joint Chinese-Philippine exploration—of waters in which China Coast Guard and other Chinese vessels have for years been continually harassing Philippine vessels because China refuses to respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines—would in that case work out beautifully.
Reality checks
Better is the view of Representative Paolo Duterte, who wants to know why Senate President Vicente Sotto is suddenly supporting such a collaboration. “Before, your stance against China was firm. Now, you suddenly want to push for joint exploration—and even blame the previous administration for [not pushing through]…. If you stand by a principle, stand by it until the end….”
Also better is the view of Senator J.V. Ejercito: “How can you enter into an agreement of a joint exploration with someone who is trying to disrespect your sovereignty, undermine your sovereignty and trying to annex your territory? Trust is the very foundation of any relationship…. I don’t trust the Chinese government.”
Outside of the government, “The Marcos administration’s return to the negotiating table with China on joint energy exploration in the West Philippine Sea is drawing wide pushback, with critics warning the oil crisis may be used to justify concessions at sea.”
The Stratbase Institute, an independent think tank, and Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares on Monday, April 6 separately rejected any move toward joint oil exploration with Beijing. In their statements, both warned such a move would essentially overlook Beijing’s history of maritime aggression and undermine Philippine sovereign rights under the 2016 arbitral award….
Their statements follow President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s March 24 interview with Bloomberg, where he said the energy crisis triggered by the Middle East war could allow Manila and Beijing to finally reach an agreement on joint gas exploration….
Stratbase President Dindo Manhit said Monday that China is “neither a reliable partner nor a responsible actor…. A state that persistently disregards international law and violates Philippine sovereign rights cannot be expected to honor any agreement.”
Manhit instead urged the government to develop the country’s energy resources through partnerships with “like-minded states and credible Filipino private sector actors.”
If the Marcos administration proceeds with the plan, China will indeed violate any agreement and use the oil crisis and “partnership” to extract “concessions at sea.”
